Time lock



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I TIME LOOK. No. 450,293. 1 Patented Apr. 14, 1891.

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P. P. KING.

TIME LOOK.

No. 450,293. Patented Apr. 14,1891.

v Inventor Attorney WitI IGSSGS THE Remus versus 00., FHOYO-Ln'nu, wnsmnmou, o. c.

UNrrE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHINEAS F. KING, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOSLER BANK SAFE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TIME-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,293, dated April 14, 1891.

Application filed October 29, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHINEAS F. KING, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ti me-Loeks, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in time-locks for use on safes, vaults, treasurechests, &o., and the improvements will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a frontelevation ofa ti me-lockexemplifying my invention in its simpler form, the usual front cover of the lock-case being removed to expose the interior, and a portion of the day-wheel being broken away to eX- pose the mechanismin its rear; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the lock in its more refined form, the simpler form being illustrated in Fig. 1 for the purpose of more. ready explanation and understanding of the principle of the lock; Fig. 3, an elevation of a portion of the day-wheel, showing two exemplifying plans for throwing the unlocking-pins out of action on any desired day; Fig. et, a perspective view of a portion of the bolt; Fig. 5, an edge View of the day-wheel; Fig. 6, a plan and horizontal section of the refined lock of Fig. 2, the case and bolt appearing in section in the plane of line I), while the time-dial and the closing-dial appear in section in the plane of line a; Fig. '7, a horizontal section of the simple lock of Fig. 1 in the plane of line (I, and Fig. 8 a central vertical section of the simple lock of Fig. 1.

Attention is directed to my patent, No. 211,409, of January 14, 1879, in which is set forth a time-lock whose time-disk receives motion from two' clock-movements through gearing and pawls and ratchets in such manner that bot-h clockonovements running independently will drive the time-disk, the timedisk responding to the faster clock-movement if the two clock-movements should not have the same rate of running.

In the accompanying drawings and giving consideration for the present only to Figs. 1, 7, and S, which show the lock in its simpler form, A indicates the usual'inclosing case of a time-lock; E, the usual movement-case dis- Serial No. 369,725. (No model.)

posed therein and containing two clock-movemen ts of usual construction and arrangement, (not shown;) C, the pinions driven by these respective clock -movements; D, two gears on a common axis, driven by these 'pinions, respectively; E, the time-arbor revolved by the gears D; F, the time-disk, fast on the arbor E. Said arbor is shown as tubular and running on a post. G is a knurl exemplifying a handle on the time-arbor E, by means of which the time-disk may be turned ahead by hand.

The parts thus far described involve nothing new in view of the earlier King patent. The clock-movements run and give continuous rotary motion to the time-disk, the timedisk yielding to the influence of the faster movement if there should be lack of unison. This is done by ratchets n and pawls 0, as in 70 the earlier King patent; Therefore the timedisk F may be assumed as in continual rotation in the direction of arrow 0 and moving at a regular rate of speed.

My time-disk F in the exemplitication is to rotate once in forty-eight hours. The hours may be indicated by graduations on the timedisk, and the time may then be read off by means of the .pointer M. The time-disk, being a forty-eight-hour dial, might have the forty-eight hours indicated on it; but it is just as well to limit the readings to those hours of special pertinence in time-locks for banking business. The pointer M in Fig. 1 shows itto be six oolock in the evening. In twentyfour hours the reading will be exactly the same; but the graduations on the opposite edge of the dial will then come into play, it being understood that the two sets of graduations are due simply to the fact that the dial is a forty-eight-hour or two-day dial. The clock-movements being wound up, the dial is to be set by turning knurl G ahead until pointer M indicates correct local time, and it is quite immaterial which of the two sets of graduations is employed. WVe will thus assume that we have the time-dial F running continuously at proper rate and indicating always the correct local time. This is merely a matter of setting and regulation, and is to receive attention often or never, according to circumstances. This revolving time-disk is responding to the unlocked or open one; J, a

spring exemplifying means for pressing and holding the bolt I-Iinto upward or locked position; K, a latch-lug upon the bolt, (see Fig. 4;) L, a spring-latch, hooking over the latchlug when the bolt is down or in unlocked position; M, the stationary timepointer before referred to. Bolt II is to be attached in any suitable manner to whatever bolt mechanism the time-lock is to control, so that when bolt II is up such bolt mechanism will be locked and when bolt II is down such bolt mechanism will be unlocked. In Fig. l the bolt is down in unlocked position, and it is so held bythelatch L. If we should press latch L to the left, it will disengage from the latch-lug K, and spring Jwill then lift the bolt into locking position. ing mechanism between the time-dial F and the bolt H to trip the latch at the predetermined locking hour and to depress the bolt and permit it to latch in unlocked position at the predetermined unlocking hour.

Proceeding with the drawings Figs. 1, '7, and 8, N indicates a star-wheel, hereinafter denominated the day-wheel, consisting of a disk'with eight teeth or points mounted for free revolution near the time-disk and bolt; 0, an annular series of eight pins projecting from the rear face of the day-wheel, there being one pin for each of the points of the day-wheel, these pins being exemplified as screws whose points project through the daywheel, (see Fig. 5;) P, a stop-ratchet on the arbor of the day-wheel to prevent the daywheel being turned backward or to hold it in position where put; Q, a ledge projecting from the bolt H, (see Fig. if) in position to be engaged by the pins 0 in such manner that if the bolt be up in locked position the day wheel pin will engage the ledge as the daywheel revolves and pull the bolt down and allow the latch L to engage, such unlocking of the bolt taking place whenever the bolt is up and a pin 0 comes to the bolt-ledge, the pins clearing the bolt-ledge when the bolt is down. It should now be obvious that the bolt being down and latched, as in Fig. l, we might turn the day-wheel in the direction of its arrow without having any effect upon the bolt, but that if the bolt be up and we turn the day-wheel a pin will engage and push the bolt down and allow it to be latched down.

It is the duty of mechanism connected with the time-dial F to rotate the day-wheel one allowed to latch in that position.

R indicates a disk, hereinafter termed the It is the duty of connect- 1 unlocking'diskfi mountedon the time-arbor E and turning with the tin1e-disk,but driven by pawl and ratchet m l, so that the unlocking-disk can be set by turning it ahead; S, two prongs projecting from the lockingdisk in position to strike and release the latch L as these prongs pass the latch, there being two prongs on the disk simply because the time-dial is a two-day dial and the locking must be provided for each day; T, a disk, hereinafter termed theunlocking-disk,similarly mounted on the time'arbor and revolving with the time-disk; U, two pins projecting from the face of the unlocking-disk, in position to engage the teeth of the day-wheel N as the three disks revolve, the effect being that the clay-wheel is rotated one tooth at each passage of a pin U, or once each twentyfour hours, there being two of the pins U simply because the time-dial is a two-day dial.

in Fig. 1 the bolt is down and latched and one of the prongs S of the locking-disk, appearing in dotted line behind the day-wheel, is near the latch. The time-disk F and its disks revolve in the direction of the arrow c, and soon the prong referred to will strike the latch and unlatch the bolt and spring J will throw the bolt to locked position. W hen this prong has done this unlatching, the time-disk will have rotatedtill the opposite one of the prongs S is directly upward. Pointer M willthen indicate on the time-disk that itis eight o"clock by local time and the upper one of the prongs S points to the tigure8. The locking will therefore occur at the time indicated by the pointing of prong S on the time-dial. It is immaterial which of the prongs S be looked at, for they both point toidentical time-scales. If we desire the looking to take place at six oclock instead of eight, We have only to turn the locking-disk Rto the right, so that prongs S will point to six oclock on the time-disk. The locking-disk can be turned and brought to any desired position on the time-dial. It will also be obvious that as the time-disk rotates it will in course of time bring the righthand pin U into engagement with the upper tooth of the day-wheel N, and as it proceeds rotate the day-wheel one tooth. With the bolt in the unlocked position shown, the rotation of the daywheel would have no effect on the bolt; but if the bolt is up in locked position then the advanceof the day-wheel would have caused a pin 0 to press the bolt down into unlocked position. It should therefore be understood that each day a pin Uwill advance the day-wheel and cause the unlocking of the bolt. When the right-hand pin U finishes its performancepf the unlocking office, the other pin U will be up under the pointer M, and pointer M will indicate siX oclock local time, and the pins U are seen to be adjusted at six oclock local time. The hour of unlocking may be changed by adjusting the unlocking-disk T upon the time-disk, so that the pins lI are opposite the desired unlocking .being utilized for all the settings.

hour. It should now be understood that timedisk F is never adjusted except to maintain correspondence with local time, and that the locking hour is determined by setting prongs S to the desired hour on 'the time-disk, and that the unlockinghour is determined by setting the pins U to the desired hour on the time-dial. It will be observed that there is no computation involved, no calculation of length of interval between locking and unlocking, and no disturbance of local time reading to adjust the lockingand unlocking time. Locking and unlocking times are adjusted by separate pointers, each brought to point to the desired respective hour of action.

The lock thus far described is in its simpler form, the graduations on the time-disk To correct the time-disk to local time, we turn it by means of knurl G. To set the unlocking-disk, we turn that disk on the time-dial by using our fingers on the prongs S. To set the locking-disk, we employ the fingers on the pins U; but it is highly desirable to avoid this fingering, as one adjusting act may possibly disturb one previously made. I therefore prefer to provide separate side spindles geared to the locking and unlocking disks, so that those disks may be more conveniently adj usted, and I go farther and provide these side spindles with graduated dials, so that the setting of the disks maybe effected without reference to the time-disk. Figs. Band 6 show the look so arranged. I cover up all the mechanism seen in Fig. 1 with a front plate (I, and I expose in front of this plate three dialsnamely, the time-dial V, the locking-dial NV, and an unlocking-dial X. Dial V moves directly with time-disk F and indicates local time by stationary pointer M. This dial V may he graduated for the entire fortyeight hours, or such duplicate portions of the forty-eight hours as'may be deemed useful. This dial V will never need setting except to secure correspondence with local time. Pointers Y and Z are geared to the time-dial F and move continuously with it. Dial \V is geared to the locking-disk R, and dial X is geared to the unlocking-disk T. The three dials and the two pointers rotate continuously and in unison precisely as the two disks and time-disk go together in Fig. 1. The dials in Fig. 2 may be rotated by the handles 6 or any other suitable finger-piece or key-piece. The hour-settings of the dials in Fig. 2 are precisely the same as in Fig. 1. The lock will close at eight oclock. If we wish looking to occur at six oclock, we turn dial WV till the pointer stands at the figure 6, the advancing of the dial causing an advance of disk R accordingly.

Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of gearing which will be self-explaining, it being proper, however, to explain'that in the exemplification Z is a ratchet-wheel fast on the time-arbor E, and m are pawls on the disks R and T, engaging this ratchet-wheel, so that the time-arbor carries the two disks around and at the same time permits of the disks being moved ahead for purposes of adjustment, the mechanism being the same as that employed to permit one of the clock-driven gears D to move in advance of the other, precisely as explained in the earlier King patent.

It will be readily understood that, if desired, the geared side spindles may be retained as a mere means for adjusting the locking and unlocking disks, the dials V, V, and X and the pointers Y and Zand their gears being omitted,the readingsbeing taken directly from the time-dial, Fig. 1, and in such case it is quite immaterial what the proportion of the gearing is between the side spindles and the disks which they are employed to adjust; but it is preferred that separate dials be employed, as in Fig. 2, and the graduations on these dials may be limited to such hours as are involved in the separate functions of the dials. This simplifies the settings and permits of the brief instructions set to the three dials, which covers all that is needed by the user of the time-lock. I

Returning again to Fig. 1, it is remembered that a pin of the day-wheel N comes into action and unlocks the bolt each day. If we wish the lock to remain on guard for any future day within the range of the day-wheel, we have only -to suppress the pin 0, which would come into action on that day. To may do this by taking the pin out or by means of any other construction which will permit the shifting of the pin to inoperative position.

In Fig. 3 two teeth of the day-wheel are shown, illustrating two plans for shifting a pin into an inactive position. In one plan the pin is to be removed, and it may be stored in the idle-hole f. In the other plan the pin is to he slid in the slot G inwardly far enough to escape the bolt-ledge.

There might be cases in which it was de sired that the lock remain on guard for several days consecutively, in which case several of the pins 0 would be thrown out of action.

It might, if desired, have thirty-one, even,

and the corresponding days of the week or month might be indicated on the day-wheel, so that the proper pin or pins could be with drawn without computation. It is my preference that whatever the number of days pro-- vided for in the day-wheel the clock-movements should be arranged to furnish power for that number of days. Pin 19 would then furnish the safeguard against any lock-out due to the running down of the movement.

I claim as my invention ICC IIO

1. In a time-lock,the com bination substantlally as set forth, with clock-driven mechanism and a bolt, of a day-wheel engaging and unlocking the bolt several times each rotation, a time-arbor rotated continuously by said clock-driven mechanism, a projection carried by said time-arbor and arranged to give an unlocking impulse to the day-Wheel once every twenty-four hours, and a projection carried by said time-arbor and arranged to lock the bolt once every twenty-four hours.

I In a time-lock, the combination,substantlally as set forth, with clock-driven mechanism, a bolt, a time-arbor driven continuously by the clock-driven mechanism, a projection carried bythe time-arbor to lock the bolt each arranged to engage and unlock the bolt, one

or more of said day-wheel projections being removable out of the plane of engagement with the bolt.

3. In a time-lock, the combination, substantially as set forth, with clock-driven mechanby the clock-driven mechanism, a projection carried by the time-arbor to lock the bolt each day, and a projection carried by the timearbor to cause the unlocking of the bolt, of a day-Wheel engaged and partially rotated each day by said last-mentioned projection, and a series of projections insaid day-wheel, each arranged to engage and unlock the bolt, one or more of said day-wheel projections being removable out of the plane of engagement with the bolt and one of said day-wheel proectlons being immovable out of said plane. 4. In a tim e-lock, the combination, substantially as set forth, with clock-driven mechan- 1sm, a bolt, a time-arbor driven continuously by the clock-driven mechanism, a projection carried by the time-arbor to lock the bolt each day, and a projection carried by the timearbor to cause the unlocking of the bolt, of a day-wheel engaged and partially rotated each day and completely rotated every eight days by said last-mention ed projections in said daywheel, each arranged to engage and unlock the bolt, one or more of said day-wheel proections being removable out of the plane of l I. l

engagement with the bolt and one of said daywheel projections being immovable out of said plane.

5. In a time-lock, the combination, substantially as set forth, with clock-driven mechanism and a bolt, of a timearbor rotated once in forty-eight hours by said time-driven mechanism, a pair of oppositely-disposed projections carried by said time-arbor to lock the bolt twice to each rotation of the time-arbor, and a pair of oppositely-disposed projections carried by said time-arbor to unlock the bolt twice to each rotation of the time-arbor.

1 In atime-lock, the combination, substantially as set forth, with clock-driven mechanism and a bolt, of a time'arbor continuously rotated by said mechanism, a ratchet-wheell carried by said time-arbor, a locking-disk loose on the tiine-arbor, an unlocking-disk loose on the time'arbor, and pawls m upon said disks and engaging said ratchet-wheel, so that the time-arbor drives both disks and either disk may be adjusted upon the timearbor.

In a time-lock, the combination, substantially as set forth, with clock driven mechanism, a time-arbor continuously rotated thereism, a bolt, a tune-arbor driven continuously by and carrying locking and unlocking projections, a bolt, and a spring to throw the bolt to locked position, of alatch arranged to hold the bolt in unlocked position and to be unlatched by said locking projection.

In a time-lock, the combination, substaniially as set forth, with clock-driven mechanism, a bolt, and a time-arbor driven continuously by said mechanism, of locking and unlocking disks carried by said time-arbor, and

separate side spindles geared to said disks to serve in adjusting them on the time-arbor.

ll. In atime-lock, the combination, substantially as set forth, with clock-driven mechanism, a bolt, a time-arbor continuously driven by said mechanism, and locking and unlocking disks carried by the time-arbor, of a time dial carried by the time-arbor, a side dialaud pointer geared to the time-arbor and lockingdisk, and a second side dial and pointer geared to the time-arbor and unlocking-disk.

PHINEAS F. KING.

Witnesses;

ll. HEIMSHEIMER, l ll-IARLES .l. INOTT. 

